zurichess graubuenden released

[brtzsnr]

Hello, everyone!

I'm happy to release a new version of my engine, zurichess graubuenden.

The source code for this release can be browsed from https://bitbucket.org/zurichess/zuriche ... raubuenden
The release binaries can be downloaded at: https://bitbucket.org/zurichess/zurichess/downloads
Linux AMD64 https://bitbucket.org/zurichess/zuriche ... inux-amd64
Windows AMD64 https://bitbucket.org/zurichess/zuriche ... -amd64.exe

The engine has a landing page http://www.zurichess.xyz/ which is easier to remember.

A detailed list of changes since the last version can be read at https://bitbucket.org/zurichess/zuriche ... ANGELOG.md and https://bitbucket.org/zurichess/zuriche ... ase.glarus. The most important changes are:.

* Use a new version of the Go compiler for increased search speed.
* Hash quiescence search and static evaluation.
* Improve Null Move Pruning conditions.
* Evaluate king near own passed pawns.
* Evaluate knight's and bishop's position (psqt).
* Evaluate backward pawns.
* Simplify Late Move Pruning and History Leaf Pruning.
* Check extend all moves with positive SEE.
* Tweak the time control to avoid forfeits for long games.


A few alpha features have been introduced:
* Skill Levels: Zurichess supports 11 skill levels of playing. The default skill level, 0, produces the strongest play, and should be used for rating lists. At skill level 10 zurichess plays about 700 Elo weaker, and it is recommended for more casual players. To change the skill level input: setoption name Skill Level value 7
* Multi PV: zurichess has the ability to print multiple principal variations. To set the desired number of principal variations input: setoption name MultiPV value 3
* Theban chess: zurichess supports a chess variant popularized by Kai Laskos which is played with standard chess rules starting from the unorthodox position 1p6/2p3kn/3p2pp/4pppp/5ppp/8/PPPPPPPP/PPPPPPKN w - - 0 1. No playing strength tests or improvements were done other than fixing the crash of the previous version.

In self-play the new version is about 110 Elo stronger:

Code: Select all

900 @ 40/15+0.05
486 - 187 - 227
ELO 119.98±20.41

However, because of a new Go compiler the engine can search faster:

Code: Select all

# PLAYER            :  RATING  POINTS  PLAYED   (%)
   1 graubuenden       :  2400.2   974.5    1600    61
   2 stockfish-6-17    :  2391.5   668.0    1200    56
   3 stockfish-6-16    :  2347.4   345.0     800    43
   4 donna-4.0         :  2306.0   791.5    1600    49
   5 stockfish-6-15    :  2264.0   434.0     800    54
   6 glarus            :  2236.5   704.0    1600    44
   7 geneva            :  2154.4   283.0     800    35

This is the same version that plays currently in Graham's Division 4 tournament. If you want to contribute, or you are just curious the source code can be browsed at https://bitbucket.org/zurichess/zurichess/overview . The latest development Linux AMD64 binary can downloaded from drone.io https://drone.io/bitbucket.org/zuriches ... /zurichess

Please test the new version if you maintain a rating list.

Many thanks to Ed, Graham and everyone else who included zurichess in their tournaments and made this release possible.


Regards,
Alexandru

[SzG]

Thanks Alexandru. It seems you made a nice progress during the past few months. I'm going to test your engine as soon as I can.

[Sylwy]

Thank you a lot, Alexandru !

[brtzsnr]

Thanks Gabor!

Looking forward to see results.

[Sylwy]

http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopi ... 37&t=50060

[Gurcan Uckardes]

Great! Looks like linux-arm build is working fine with Android. I will rate the new one soon in Rapidroid.
And +110 elo is very exciting to read.

[SzG]

In self-play the new version is about 110 Elo stronger:

My first results seem to support your claim. Congratulations!

It's going to appear on the blitz list on Sunday.